Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 28, 2016

The River of Grass needs a steady flow of funding. That’s the message environmental and conservation activists are hoping to send to lawmakers on Thursday during the annual Everglades Action Day. “The focus this year is a funding mechanism,” said Jason Totoiu, the co-chairman of the Everglades Coalition, made up of 61 environmental and conservation […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 27, 2016

A bill to legalize and regulate fantasy sports play in Florida cleared its first Senate review panel on Wednesday. The Regulated Industries Committee OK’d the “Fantasy Contest Amusement Act” (SB 832) with only two ‘no’ votes from Sen. Gwen Margolis, a Miami Democrat, and committee chairman Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican. The bill states that “fantasy […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 27, 2016

For one night, Florida’s Capitol Press Corps took a break from making state lawmakers squirm and instead did its best to make them — and several hundred other spectators of The Process — laugh. The Skits took over the Tallahassee music venue The Moon on Tuesday. Better than last year’s event, the “sometimes annual” rite […]

Ryan RayJanuary 26, 2016

Despite some pushback from health insurance carriers, the Senate Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee approved a bill to reform children’s dental coverage by creating an independent program to administer it under the state’s Medicaid regime. The bill, SB 994, is sponsored by newly minted Senate President-to-be Sen. Joe Negron. Negron said the state’s participation levels in the program […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 26, 2016

State Sen. Joe Negron has filed a new version of his bill to legalize and regulate fantasy sports play in Florida, including a provision to create a new “Office of Amusements.” Negron, a Stuart Republican and Senate President-designate, filed the new “Fantasy Contest Amusement Act” (SB 832) on Tuesday. It grew from four to 12 pages. […]

Scott PowersJanuary 23, 2016

The Republican Party of Florida began the 2016 election year with offers of truces this weekend from Gov. Rick Scott and incoming Florida Senate leaders, though the party still will have less of the state’s Republican campaign money and political messaging under its control. With unity being a critical theme in a presidential election year commonly […]

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2016

A bill sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron to prevent state funding from flowing to organizations that boycott or have divested from Israel on human rights grounds unanimously passed the Senate on Thursday. The bill creates a state list of “scrutinized companies” that boycott Israel to be kept by the State Board of Administration responsible for investing funds from […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2016

Florida Department of Environmental Protection head Jon Steverson was formally confirmed in his position by members of the Senate’s Ethics and Elections Committee on Wednesday. That affirmation, though, came only after he was grilled by the panel about controversial decisions or statements made under his watch the past year. The Senate refused to confirm him in last year’s regular […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2016

A bill to set statewide insurance standards for drivers of ridesharing services advanced unanimously in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Tuesday. Unlike the bill moving through the Florida House sponsored by Republican Matt Gaetz, the Senate bill (SB 1118) sponsored by Altamonte Springs Republican Dave Simmons deals solely with the insurance requirements required for Transportation Network […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 19, 2016

Rebecca Negron can add Rep. Gayle Harrell to her list of backers. On Tuesday, Harrell, a Stuart Republican, endorsed Negron in her congressional bid. “Rebecca, like myself, is a longtime member of the Martin County community,” said Harrell in a statement. “Grounded in her conservative values, I know Rebecca will bring the issues that matter […]

Tag: Joe Negron
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On Everglades Action Day, environmental groups to urge lawmakers to set aside money for restoration projects

Senate panel clears fantasy sports bill

Press Skits tease lawmakers, tickle Tallahassee

Senate Health budget panel advances children’s Medicaid dental proposal

New fantasy sports bill would create “Office of Amusement”

RPOF, Blaise Ingoglia take truce offer from Rick Scott a year after split

Senate unanimously passes pro-Israel legislation

Jon Steverson grilled on fracking, timber harvesting, hunting in state parks by Senate panel

Senate panel OKs bill to establish state insurance standards for ride-share companies

Gayle Harrell endorses Rebecca Negron in CD18 race